Diamond Tree bull tops sale at $10,000

After a record-bursting sale last year, the Diamond Tree Angus bull sale price average eased back last week at Manjimup.

Elders and Landmark put up 57 bulls, selling 54 for an average price of $5486, as compared to last year when 52 sold for the record $6284 average.

Competitive bidding had the first 20 lots well over the record average ($6693) but the rolling figure fell as buyers became more selective towards the end of the catalogue.

The Gandy family offered five extra bulls this year with numbers of registered buyers continually increasing over the years.

This year the list climbed to 55 registered bidders.

Repeat buyer Mal Phillips, of WD & IM Phillips & Son, Manjimup, bought the $10,000 top-priced bull, Diamond Tree Performer H84.

The 996kg bull had a frame score of 7.7 and recorded EBVs of +50, +87 and +106 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights.

Mr Phillips said the bull represented an outcross sire for his family's 900 cow herd and would be used over their stud and commercial breeders.

The bull was sired by US Angus sire KCF Bennett Performer.

The $9500 second top-priced bull was secured by Landmark agent Greg Neaves on behalf of repeat buyer GM Wilkinson.

Mr Neaves said the 898kg bull, which was sired by US bull Sydgen Trust, represented outcross genetics for the buyer.

Another Performer son, Diamond Tree Performer H25 was sold for $9000 to repeat buyer Davy Milne, accompanied by son Martin, of Parmango Farm, Esperance.

Mr Martin said he selected on general conformation and EBV figures, and that past Diamond Tree bulls performed very well in their herd.

Landmark agent Leon Giglia secured an $8750 bull sired by Trust for Rayview Farms, of Albany.

Account Twin Peaks, of Manjimup, also bought a Trust bull for $8500, while Farris Family Trust paid $8500 for a Sydgen CC&7 son.

Woogenellup producers Capecup Grazing paid $8000 for a SCA 3299 Of Ideal son.